Research and analysis

Reviews of qualification standards

A series of research papers looking at how the standards of GCSE and A level qualifications has changed over time.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 22 March 2005

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Documents

QCA's review of standards: description of the programme

Ref: QCA/06/2374

PDF, 1.38 MB, 29 pages

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Art and design standards review: A level, 1978 to 1998

PDF, 65.1 KB, 12 pages

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Art and design standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2009

Ref: Ofqual/11/4848

PDF, 1.02 MB, 72 pages

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Biology standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2003

Ref: QCA/05/1571

PDF, 101 KB, 23 pages

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Biology standards review: A level, 2003 to 2008

Ref: Ofqual/12/5156

PDF, 654 KB, 40 pages

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Biology standards review: GCSE, 2003 to 2008

Ref: Ofqual/12/5151

PDF, 441 KB, 25 pages

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Biology A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/760

PDF, 78.7 KB, 14 pages

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Chemistry standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2003

Ref: QCA/05/1572

PDF, 96.5 KB, 22 pages

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Chemistry standards review: A level, 2003 to 2008

Ref: Ofqual/12/5157

PDF, 763 KB, 46 pages

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Chemistry standards review: GCSE, 2003 to 2008

Ref: Ofqual/12/5152

PDF, 544 KB, 40 pages

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Chemistry A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/765

PDF, 83.2 KB, 16 pages

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Chemistry GCSE: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/771

PDF, 77.9 KB, 15 pages

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Citizenship studies (short course): GCSE comparability study 2002 to 2006

Ref: QCA/07/3089

PDF, 70.9 KB, 25 pages

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Classics A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/761

PDF, 96.4 KB, 18 pages

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Computing and ICT standards review: A level, 1998 to 2004

Ref: QCA/06/2346

PDF, 114 KB, 37 pages

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Critical thinking standards review: A level, 2010

Ref: Ofqual/12/5158

PDF, 443 KB, 32 pages

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Design and technology standards review: A level, 1978 to 1998

PDF, 55.7 KB, 10 pages

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Design and technology standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2009

Ref: Ofqual/11/5039

PDF, 1010 KB, 63 pages

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Economic and business studies standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2003

Ref: QCA/05/1573

PDF, 138 KB, 40 pages

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English standards review: GCSE, 1999 to 2002

PDF, 56.1 KB, 13 pages

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English standards review: GCSE, 2002 to 2005

Ref: QCA/07/3102

PDF, 113 KB, 35 pages

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English standards review: GCSE, 2005 to 2009

Ref: Ofqual/11/4846

PDF, 572 KB, 36 pages

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English literature standards review: A level, 2000 to 2005

Ref: QCA/07/3100

PDF, 152 KB, 59 pages

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English literature standards review: A level, 2005 to 2009

Ref: Ofqual/11/4847

PDF, 535 KB, 53 pages

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English literature A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/766

PDF, 75.1 KB, 14 pages

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English literature standards review: GCSE, 1980 to 2000

PDF, 71.9 KB, 10 pages

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English literature standards review: GCSE, 2000 to 2007

Ref: Ofqual/09/4154

PDF, 268 KB, 36 pages

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French standards review: A level, 1997 to 2004

Ref: QCA/06/2347

PDF, 96.8 KB, 27 pages

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French A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/762

PDF, 85.8 KB, 16 pages

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French standards review: GCSE, 1996 to 2001

PDF, 58.9 KB, 16 pages

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General studies standards review: A level, 1980 to 2000

PDF, 47.4 KB, 8 pages

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Geography standards review: A level, 1980 to 2000

PDF, 61 KB, 13 pages

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Geography standards review: A level, 2001 to 2010

Ref: Ofqual/12/5159

PDF, 605 KB, 37 pages

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Geography standards review: GCSE, 1996 to 2001

PDF, 54.7 KB, 13 pages

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German standards review: A level, 1996 to 2000

PDF, 68.6 KB, 16 pages

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German GCSE: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/767

PDF, 90.8 KB, 17 pages

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History GCSE: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/768

PDF, 82.9 KB, 15 pages

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Mathematics standards review: GCSE and A level, 1998 to 2004

Ref: QCA/06/2348

PDF, 122 KB, 46 pages

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Mathematics standards review: A level, 2004 to 2007

Ref: Ofqual/09/4154

PDF, 81.5 KB, 28 pages

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Mathematics A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/764

PDF, 80.1 KB, 15 pages

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Mathematics standards review: GCSE, 2004 to 2008

Ref: Ofqual/12/5154

PDF, 429 KB, 33 pages

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Mathematics GCSE: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/772

PDF, 106 KB, 24 pages

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Music standards review: GCSE and A level, 1985 to 2005

Ref: QCA/07/3101

PDF, 277 KB, 89 pages

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Physics standards review: GCSE and A level, 1996 to 2002

Ref: QCA/05/1574

PDF, 106 KB, 25 pages

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Physics standards review: GCSE and A level, 2001 to 2007

Ref: Ofqual/09/4156

PDF, 257 KB, 57 pages

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Physics GCSE: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/769

PDF, 81.6 KB, 16 pages

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Psychology A level: 5-year review of standards (2001)

Ref: QCA/01/763

PDF, 79.7 KB, 15 pages

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Science and additional science standards review: GCSE, summer 2009

Ref: Ofqual/10/4742

PDF, 152 KB, 36 pages

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Science (double award) standards review: GCSE, 1995 to 2000

PDF, 139 KB, 10 pages

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Science (double award) standards review: GCSE, 2000 to 2005

Ref: QCA/07/3032

PDF, 126 KB, 24 pages

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Sociology standards review: A level, 1999 to 2004

Ref: QCA/06/2349

PDF, 69.8 KB, 22 pages

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Details

Ofqual undertakes a rolling programme of reviews across high profile GCSE and A level subjects to monitor whether standards in assessment and student performance have been maintained over time. These reports detail the findings for each of those reviews. It also includes reviews undertaken by Ofqual’s predecessor, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

Published 22 March 2005